Retaining means for shock absorbing mechanism



A ril 28, 1936. R J L D 2,038,673-

RETAINING MEANS FOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 27, 1934 a 2/ 7/6 70 V m f v Z1 1 2 14 I I l L I I I f \I I A I I UNITED, STATES ATENT OFFICE RETAINING MEANS FOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Roland J. Olander, Chicago, 111., assignor to W. H.

Miner, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1934., Serial No. 759,395

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in retaining means, especially adapted for use in connection with friction shock absorbing mechanisms for railway cars.

One object of the invention is to provide in a shock absorbing mechanism, for railway draft riggings, simple and efficient retaining means for temporarily holding the shock absorbing mechanism under slight initial compression, thereby reducing the overall length thereof to facilitate placing of the same between the stop members of the draft sills of the railway car, said means becoming inoperative after compression of the shock absorbing means in service, thus permitting the same to expand to its normal maximum overall length and cooperate properly with said stop members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retaining means of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, which may be quickly applied to the shock absorbing mechanism and repeatedly employed to shorten the overall length of the shock absorbing mechanism to permit easy application thereof between the stop members of the draft sills as often as desired.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view through the underframe structure and shock absorbing mechanism of a railway car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith, the shock absorbing mechanism being illustrated as slightly contracted or shortened. Figure 2 is a broken view, similar to Figure 1, showing the forward end portion only of the structure disclosed in Figure 1 and illustrating the shock absorbing mechanism in full release position expanded to its normal overall length, showing my improved resilient retaining, means in its inoperative position in full lines and in its operative position in dotted lines. Figure 3 is an enlarged front end elevational view of the wedge member, retaining bolt, and nut of the shock absorbing mechanism, showing the resilient retaining means in its inoperative position in full lines and in its operative position in dotted lines. Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of resilient retaining means, said means being shown in expanded form in full lines and in contracted form in dotted lines.

In said drawing, referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the draft sills of a railway car are designated by Iii-40, these sills being provided with the usual front and rear stop lugs I lll and l2-l2, fixed to the inner faces of the sills l ll-l0. The inner end of the coupler shank of the railway draft'rigging is designated by l3 and a hooded yoke M of well-known form is connected thereto in the usual manner. A front main follower l5 and a shock absorbing mechanism IS,

in which my improvements are embodied, are

disposed within the yoke.

Although my improved retaining means is capable of employment with any well-known type of shock absorbing mechanism comprising relatively movable members having spring means resisting approach thereof to cushion shocks, in the present instance my improved retaining. means is illustrated as employed in connection with one Well-known type of friction shock absorbing mechanism. The friction shock absorbing mechanism i5, illustrated in the drawing, includes a friction shell ll having a rear enlarged end portion "3 cooperating with the rear stop lugs |2| 2. The shell ll contains the usual spring resistance means, comprising inner and outer coils l9 and 26. A plurality of friction shoes 2 l-2l2l have frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the walls of the shell H, and a wedge block 22 has wedging engagement with the shoes in the usual manner. The wedge block 22 cooperates with the front main follower l5. The parts of the mechanism are held assembled by the retainer bolt 23 headed at the rear end, as indicated at 24, and having a nut 25 threaded on the outer end thereof. The wedge block 22 is provided with a relatively large pocket 26, which is open at the forward end of thewedge, and accommodates the nut 25 of the retainer bolt 23, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawing.

My improved retaining means for temporarily holding the mechanism shortened so as to permit application of the same between the draft sills consists of an inherently resilient band 21, which is interposed between the nut 25 of the retainer bolt 23 and the bottom wall of the pocket 26 of the wedge 22. As shown in Figure 3, this band 2? when in its normal expanded condition is in the form of an open ringlike element. 7 ness of the band 2'? is such as to space the nut 25 of the bolt 23 a predetermined distance from thebottom wall of the pocket 26 of the wedge 22, which will effect shortening of the overall length of the friction shock absorbing mechanism 16 to suehan extent that the same may be easily The thick- V placedbetween the stop lugs H and I2 of the draft sills. c

. When the friction shock absorbing mechanism l6 isfirst assembled, the retainer bolt is applied by inserting the same through the rear end of the friction shell I1, and after the spring, friction shoes, and wedge have been assembled with the shell, the nut 25 is threaded on the outer end of the bolt and adjusted so that the shock absorbing mechanism will be held expanded to the maximum overall length required in service so as to properly cooperate with the front and rear stop lugs II and I2 of the draft sills. In other words, the parts are so adjustedv that the rear end of the friction shell will'bear on therear stop lugs l2 and the front follower [5 will bear 7 on the front stop lugs ll-il when the mechanism is fully expanded with the wedge'ZZ in en gagement with the front follower l5. To shorten the overall length of the mechanism so as to facilitate application .thereof between the stop lugs. lll and I2-l2 of the draft sills, the

retaining band 21'is applied between the nut. 25

of the bolt and the bottom wall of the pocket 26 of the wedge 22. in the following manner: The band'ZT in the expanded condition. indicated in full lines in Figures 2'and 3 is gripped between the jaws of a pair of "tongs and is inserted, in said expanded condition, into. the pocket '26 of the wedge 22 while the shock absorbing mechanism shock absorbing mechanism is then permitted to expand so as to tightly grip the band 21 between V the nut 25 of the bolt and the bottom wall of the pocket 26 As will be. evident, the shock absorbing mechanism I6 is thus held in the shortened condition shown in Figure 1. The band 21 is held in the position last referred to until the shock absorbing mechanism is. compressed in service,rwhereupon the wedge will be forced inwardly, thereby releasing the band ZLfrom its clamped condition between the nut 25 and the bottom wall of the pocket 26 of the wedge 22,

7 thus permitting the band to expand to the full 'line position shown in Figures 2 and 3. 'fully expanded position, the band 21 entirely In its clears the nut 25 and is held centered by engagement with the side walls of the'pocket 26, as

clearly illustrated in Figures2 and3.r Inasmuch as the band 21 remains within the pocket of the wedge 22, the same may be repeatedly used for holding theishock absorbing mechanism in shortened condition by replacing the band between the nut 25 and the bottom wall of the pocket 26 of the wedge 22 in the manner hereinbefore described.

Referring next to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, a band 28 of inherently resilient material is employed, which is of ringlike form, and in its fully expanded condition has the ends of the band spaced only'a' slight distance apart, as indicated 'at 29 in saidfigure. is applied between the nut and the bottomrwall of the pocket of the wedge of a friction shock absorbing mechanism, opposite sides of the band arev bowed inwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. The inwardly bowed portions of the When this band v band are displaced to such an'extent that they.

will engage beneath the nut of the retainer bolt and hold the nut spaced from the bottomwall of the pocket of the wedge member in a manner similar to the band 21, hereinbefore described. When the shock absorbing mechanism is com pressed and the clamping action of the nut 25 removed, the band 28 will expandto the full line 7 position shown in Figure 4, thereby entirely clearing the nut and permitting full expansion of the shock absorbing mechanism.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawing, it will be evident that I have provided a simple and efiicient means by 'which a shock absorbing mechanism may be temporarily held of .lesser overall length than the predetermined maximum overall length 7 thereof in full release, whereby the same may be a readily assembled'between the stop means of the railway car rigging without the employment of any auxiliary clamping or holding means, the retaining means being automatically rendered inoperative in service upon compression of the.

shock absorbing mechanism to'permit full expansion of said mechanismrto the predetermined overall length and maintaining the same in such f lengthat'all times thereafter.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes'and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 7

I claim:

1. In a shock absorbing device for railway draft" riggings, the combination with a shock absorbing mechanism including the following elements::

yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to absorb shocks upon relative approach thereof, and means for limiting relative separation of said members'and maintaining said mechanism of maximum uniform overall length; of V retaining means comprising an inher'entlyresilij ,ent expansible member operative in contracted;

. 45 and held thereby to temporarily hold said mecha- Y condition with said elements of said'inechanism nism shortened to a lengthwhich is less than said maximum length to facilitate application thereof 7 to the draft rigging, said resilient member being permitted to expand through the action of said mechanism upon compression thereof and disengage itself from its operative position," thereby permitting the mechanism to assume said maximum overall length. 1 r g l 2. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with :yieldingly' resisted, relatively movable members adapted to I absorb shocks upon relative approach thereof; of meansfor'limiting the relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of maximum uniform overall length; and retaining means comprising an inherently resilient element interposed between one of said members and said 1 first named means for restricting relative separa' tion of said members and holding said mechanism of lesser overall length than said maximumlength to facilitate application of said mechanism to said rigging, said inherently resilient element expanding to displace the same from its interposed position, to render the same ineffective,

assume said maximum overall length;

. 70. through the action of said mechanism upon com? pression thereof, thereby permitting the same to 3. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway:

draft riggings, the combination. with'yieldingly in contracted condition between one of said members and said first named means for restricting relative separation of said members and holding said mechanism of lesser overall length than said maximum length to facilitate application of said mechanism to said rigging, said inherently resilient element being held in said contracted condition by the expansive force of said mechanism, said element being released through the action of said mechanism upon compression of the latter to expand laterally to displace itself from its interposed position and render it ineffective, thereby permitting the mechanism to assume said maximum overall length.

4. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to absorb shocks upon relative approach thereof; of means for limiting the relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of maximum uniform overall length; and means for temporarily shortening the effective length of said mechanism, comprising an inherently resilient take-up element, sprung into operative position to temporarily maintain said mechanism of shorter overall length than said maximum, said element being held in said operative position by the expansive force of the mechanism and being released, byremoval of said force upon compression of said mechanism, to spring out of said operative position and permit the mechanism to assume said maximum overall length.

5. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to absorb shocks upon relative approach thereof; of

' means for limiting the relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of maximum uniform overall length; and retaining means in the form of a contractible open ringlike spring member, interposed in contracted condition between one of said members and said first named means for restricting relative separation of said members to temporarily hold said mechanism of lesser overall length than said maximum to facilitate application of said mechanism to said rigging, said ringlike spring member being maintained in said contracted condition by the expansive force of the mechanism, said ringlike spring being freed from the influence of said expansive force upon compression of the mechanism, thereby permitting the same to expand to remove the same from its interposed position, thereby permitting said mechanism to assume said maximum overall length.

6. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of retaining means comprising cooperating shouldered abutments for limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length in full release; and a resilient expandible filler member interposed between said shouldered abutments for temporarily holding said shock absorbing mechanism slightly contracted when initially assembled, thereby .reducing the overall length thereof to less than said. predetermined length, said filler member expanding upon actuation of said shock absorbing mechanism in service to disengage itself from between said shouldered abutments to permit expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length.

7. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to cushion shocks upon relativeapproach thereof; of retaining means comprising cooperating abutmentshaving shouldered engagement with each other underthe influence of the expansive force of said mechanism for limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length in full release; and a resilient expandible filler member adapted to be. contracted and interposed between said shouldered abutments for temporarily holding said shock absorbing mechanism slightly contracted when initially assembled, thereby reducing the overall length thereof to less than said predetermined length, said filler member being held contracted by frictional engagement with said shouldered abutments and being released to expand upon actuation of said shock absorbing mechanism in service to disengage itself from between said shouldered abutments to permit expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length.

8. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of 4 retaining means comprising cooperating shouldered movement limiting abutments engageablewith each other through the expansive action of the mechanism for limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length'in full release; and an inherently resilient radially expandible filler member, adapted to be contracted and interposed between said shouldered abutmentsfor temporarily holding said shock absorbing mechanism slightly contracted when initially assembled, thereby reducing the overall length thereof to less than said predetermined length,

said filler member while in said contracted condition being held clamped between said shouldered abutments by the expansive force of the mechanism, and being released to expand upon actuation of said shock absorbing mechanism in service to disengage itself from between said shouldered abutments to permit expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length.

9. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of retaining means comprising cooperating shouldered abutments for limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining said mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length in full release; and a resilient expandible open ringlike filler member interposed between said shouldered abutments in contracted condition for temporarisaid shock absorbing mechanism. in service to' disengage itself from betweenhsaid shouldered abutments to permit'expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length.

7 10. Ina shock absorbing mechanism for'railway draft riggings, the combinationiwith yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to' cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of retaining means comprising cooperating shouldered .abutments for limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining said meclianism of predetermined uniform overall length in full release; and an inherently resilient expandible open ringlike filler member, adapted to have portions thereof bowed inwardly to be in- 'terposed between said shouldered abutments for temporarily holdirm said shock" absorbing mechanism slightly contracted when initially assembled,

thereby reducing the overall length thereof to less thansaid predetermined length, said filler member having the bowed portions thereof clamped between said abutments by the expansive force of the mechanism, said inwardly bowed portions being released from'clamping action to permit said bowed portions to spring outwardly "to clear said'shoulders upon actuation of said shock absorbing mechanism in'service to disengage from between said shouldered abutments to permit expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length;

11. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of a' retainer having enlarged portions at opposite ends thereof having shouldered engagement with both of said members, for. limiting relative separation thereof and maintaining the mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length; and an inherently resilient'expandible filler element interposed between one'of said members and the shoulder formed by the cooperating enlargement for temporarily 1 spacing said member from said shoulder, said element being expandible to an extent to clear said enlargement, said element being clamped between saidmember and enlargement by the expansive force of the mechanism, and said element being released from said clamped condition upon compression of said mechanism to permit expan- I sion of said element, whereby said element is moved clear of said enlargement permitting expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length and engagement between said member and enlargement to positively limit expansion of said shock absorbing mechanism to said predetermined overall length,

12. In a friction shock absorbing mechanismfor railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof, one of said members having a pocket; of a retainer having enlarged portions at opposite ends thereof, one of said enlarged portions cooperating with the member having the pocket and having shouldered engage-' V ment with the inner wall of'said pocket, the

other enlarged portion having shouldered engagement with the other member, the shouldered engagement of said enlarged portions with said members limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining the mechanism of predetermined uniform overall length; and an inherently resilient expandible-open ringlike band member interposed between the inner wall of said pocket and the shoulder formed by the cooperat' ing enlargement for temporarilyspacing said memberfrom said shoulder, said element being expandible'to an extent to clear said enlarge,- ment, said element being clamped between said innerwall of the pocket of said member andene largementby the expansive force of the mechanism, and said element being released from said clamped condition upon compression of said mechanism to permit expansion of said element,

whereby said element is moved clear of said enlargement permitting expansion of said mechanism to said predetermined overall length and engagement between said inner wall of the pocket of said member and enlargement to positively 'limit expansion of said shock absorbing mechanism to said predetermined overall length,

13. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with yieldingly resisted, relatively movable members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof, one of said members hav ing a pocket; of a retainer having enlarged portions at opposite ends thereof, one of said en-'- larged portions cooperating with the member having the pocket and having shouldered engagement with the inner wall of said pocket, said enlarged portion being of smaller size than said pocket, the other enlarged portion having shouldered engagement with the other member, the shouldered engagement of said enlarged portions with said members limiting relative separation of said members and maintaining the mechanism of predeterim'ned uniform overall length; and an inherently resilient ringlikeband interposed between the inner wall of said pocket and the shoulder formed by the'cooperatingenlargement for V temporarily spacing said member from said: shoulder, said band being expandible to an extent to clear said enlargement and engage the of said member and enlargement to positively: limit expansion of said shock absorbing mechanism to said predetermined overall length,

14. In a shock absorbing mechanism for rail- Way draft riggings, the combination with a pair of relatively movable, yieldingly resisted members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of a retainer bolt for said I a members, said bolt having heads at opposite ends,

one of said heads being in the form of a nut' threaded on said bolt, said heads having shouldered engagement respectively with said members to limit relative separation thereof to a predetermined maximum extent; and an inherently resilient expandible filler member interposed between one of said heads and the cooperating member for temporarily holding said member slightly'spaced from said head to shorten said mechanism while being assembled with'the draft rigging, said expandible filler member being clamped between said head and member by the expansive force of the mechanism and being released from clamping action and permitted to expand to clear said head upon compression of the mechanism, thereby allowing expansion of the mechanism to the full predetermined extent limited by contact with said head.

15. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with a pair of relatively movable, yieldingly resisted members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof; of a retainer bolt for said members, said bolt having heads at opposite ends, one of said heads being in the form of a nut threaded on said bolt, said heads having shouldered engagement respectively with said members to limit relative separation thereof to a predetermined maximum extent; and an inherently resilient expandible open bandlike filler member interposed between one of said heads and the cooperating member for temporarily holding said member slightly spaced from said head to shorten said mechanism while being assembled with the draft rigging, said expandible filler member being clamped between said head and member by the expansive force of the mechanism and being released from clamping action and permitted to expand to clear said head upon compression of the mechanism, thereby allowing expansion of the mechanism to the full predetermined extent limited by contact with said head.

16. In a shock absorbing mechanism for railway draft riggings, the combination with a pair of relatively movable, yieldingly resisted members adapted to oppose and cushion shocks upon relative approach thereof, one of said members having a socket; of a retainer bolt for said members, said bolt having heads at opposite ends, one of said heads being in the form of a nut threaded on said bolt, one of said heads cooperating with the member having the socket, and the other head cooperating with the other member, said heads having shouldered engagement respectively with said members to limit relative separation thereof to a predetermined maximum extent, said head which cooperates with the member having the socket being of smaller size than said socket and being seated in said socket when the mechanism is expanded; and an inherently'resilient expandible filler member interposed between the bottom wall of said socket and the corresponding head for temporarily holding said member slightly spaced from said:

head to shorten said mechanism while being assembled with the draft rigging, said expandible filler member being clamped between said head and member by the expansive force of the mech ROLAND J. OLANDER. 

